When I was pregnant with my first, I remember making a list of all the different baby products that I needed to add to my registry (or buy myself) before baby arrived. I was convinced that a lot of unnecessary items were “must have baby products,” and that we needed them in order to survive. While there are a lot of suggestions out there (especially on Pinterest) for all those must-have items, you really don't need much!
SEE AN UPDATED LIST HERE: <<<Baby Registry Must Haves>>>
Now that I've had 2 babies, I have noticed that babies don't really need a plethora of items to keep them happy. There were a lot of things that I thought I needed that I just didn't use as much as I thought I would. Since I have multiple friends having babies, I thought I would make a list of must-have baby products, nice-to-have baby products, and you-can-do-without baby products. Granted, keep in mind this is my personal opinion. I would totally love to get all of your input on this! Please recommend your favorites and tell me about the products you thought you would need but ended up not being necessary. I didn't include all the obvious products like clothes, hygiene, etc., because those are no-brainers! *I will recommend that you do an Amazon baby registry. You can share it with your friends as a way to get good suggestions, and also as a way to remember product suggestions that you get from other moms. More on that here: 10 Things you should do the Moment you Get Pregnant
At home with the kids? Instantly access any of these printable activity bundles to keep them learning!
MUST-HAVE Baby Products
Fisher Price Rock and Play. This one will forever be a must-have for me! I didn't have a Rock N Play with my first, but borrowed my sister's for my second (after she wouldn't stop raving about it). I actually had two sisters who used this before me and both of them raved about how well their babies slept in it (child #4 for both of them, so they knew what they were talking about). If your baby has any type of acid reflux, this bassinet will save you! The incline is perfect, and the way that it is made makes them feel like they are being cuddled, so our baby slept amazing in it! She was sleeping through the night at 5 weeks, but sadly stopped the heavenly behavior when we moved her into a crib at about 6-7 months. This thing also saved me because of how portable it is. It followed me in every room when I needed to be hands-free.
A good breast pump. This is only a must-have if you are nursing, and you don't have to get the most expensive ones in order to get awesome results. I have used both the Medela pump in style advanced and the Ameda Purely Yours, and even though the Ameda is quite a bit cheaper, I thought it worked just as good (or better). In fact, I seemed to be able to control the speed and suction strength MUCH easier with the Ameda.
Swaddle Blankets. Okay, so I almost considered putting these on the “nice-to-have” list, because you really don't have to have them, but we had them with our second and I LOVED them. With my first I just used a normal blanket because I thought it was dumb to spend extra money on a blanket just because it had velcro in special spots. Little did I know. We were always re-swaddling our first baby in the middle of the night, but not with these swaddle blankets. They are convenient for QUICKLY and efficiently swaddling, which in turn gave me more sleep. Anything that offers me more sleep makes the “must-have” list….hence the rock N Play bassinet.
Extra Pacifiers. If you end up with a binky-lovin' baby, you had better buy extra! I promise, you will thank yourself. Buy extra and save some in the car, in your house, in the diaper bag….you don't want to be without a binky! We now have purchased SO MANY pacifiers because we didn't bring along an extra and we ended up desperately running to the store for more when we were on the road or at Grandma's house. I'd also suggest a pacifier clip to help you from losing them. I've also heard people rave about wubbanubs for keeping the binky from falling out of baby's mouth, but we lost ours before it got good use!
Diapers. This one is a given, but I would recommend stocking up ahead of time. My husband totally made fun of me when I purchased a huge stock of diapers before our 1st of even born. Why did I do it? Because I was watching the sales and saw that Walgreens had them for $2.50 a package one week. You better believe I stocked up! And guess what? We didn't buy diapers for the entire first year of our baby's life. Add up those savings baby!
Nursing Cover. Again, only an essential if you are nursing, and if you don't like to show your goods while doing so. I have the Udder Cover brand which I love (I used one of their promo codes), but I've been looking into a nursing shawl since I would love some extra coverage.
Products for Keeping Baby's head round. I mentioned these in my post on tips for avoiding the baby helmet. Because of the advice to lay babies on their backs now a days, there are more and more cases of plagiocephaly, or flat-heads. We were grateful for the recommendations when our daughter started getting a flat head because we ended up saving $$$ on medical bills, and our baby didn't have to deal with the discomfort of helmet therapy.
Thermal Baby Bottle. These are great if you ever plan on going anywhere with baby and want to keep milk warm, cold or room temp. It keeps the liquid at whatever temp it is when you put it in the bottle. I love Pacific Baby brand because they have toddler sippy cup lids that fit on the bottles, so they grow with your child. Even if you breastfeed your baby like I do, there will be times when you may need to pump a bottle. Thermal bottles saved us on our trip to Hawaii!
Nice-To-Have Baby Products
This category is probably the funnest, and the one I would most love your suggestions! Even if I can't purchase it (or don't need to), I love “window shopping” and looking at all the fun (and creative) products that are out there. These are all the products that are very helpful and nice to have, but not quite as necessary (and not worth going in to debt for if you are short on cash).
A Baby Bum Brush. This may not be a must-have for everyone, but most would LOVE it. No more wiping diaper rash cream into your baby's bum crack with your bare hand! A friend actually invented this product and I think it's pure genius. It is now my go-to baby shower gift for the “new daddy”. It always brings a chuckle.
Baby Monitor. I can see how these would be nice, but I didn't use one with either of my babies and I didn't feel like I was at a loss. I don't live in a huge house though, so as long as I don't have music on, I can hear my babies crying. A video monitor would have been really nice during those first few months when I was paranoid, but we just didn't have the budget. I can totally see why some parents would consider this one a “must-have,” so maybe this is one of those things that are great to receive at a baby shower, rather than to purchase yourself.
Fun toys. This one belongs in both the nice-to-have-category as well as the you-can-do-without category. There are so many tempting baby toys out there, but babies really can be entertained with just about anything. It is nice to have a few developmental toys in my opinion.
Baby Bath Tubs. I really do enjoy baby bath tubs, but you use them for such a short amount of time and then they take up space in your basement or storage. I got sick of pulling mine out all the time and ended up just bathing my babies in the sink. I have been curios about the pillow type things that you can bath baby on, has anyone tried one of those?
Baby-Wearing Device. This one should probably be on the “must-have” list…because you will go crazy if you can't' ever be hands-free! So many people have opinions on what is the better product…some say Moby, some say Ergo…I'd love to hear all of your thoughts on this one since I have only used a cheap infantino (which worked great by the way).
Baby Products You-Can-Live-Without
Swing or Bouncer. I'm sure some would disagree, but I feel like you really only need a swing OR a bouncer, not both. Baby stuff can start to take over the house pretty quickly.
Exersaucer. Okay, let me explain. This is the one we bought and neither of my babies liked it very much and it took up a lot of space. We also tried one with wheels, and again…they got bored with it fast. However, I have seen some really fancy ones that bounce and have tons of interactive stuff on them. I would say if you are going to buy an exersaucer, pay extra for a nice one. I would also suggest buying one that folds up easily so that it's not constantly taking up space. Otherwise they are totally lame. Does anyone have a favorite in this category?
The Boppy. This one might get disagreements, because I usually only meet people who either love it or hate it. Not to many in-betweeners. I found it kind of useless for nursing. I guess not completely useless, but I found a normal pillow to provide better flexibility for positioning a nursing baby. If you are a first-time mom, you might consider borrowing a Boppy for your first week to see if you like it.
Diaper Pail. I convinced my husband that this was a “necessary” item because I hated walking out to the garbage for every single poopy, and I didn't want them smelling up the house either. I ended up ditching it with my 2nd, because I found it still smelled a little bit, and it filled up too fast: I was always buying new bags for it. For our second kid, we have a grocery bag hanging from the outside of the back door, and I take it to the garbage at the end of the day. Tacky? Most likely. I do however recommend getting the scented diaper bags that you can keep in your diaper bag for those wonderful occasions when baby poops while you are at a function or party or whatever.
Would you add anything to these lists?
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Lindsey says
Your list is great. I liked the boppy because it helped to feed my baby until she got too long to lay on it. I think something to add to “must have” or the “nice to have” list would be a Pack n Play. Our daughter is only six months only and has only recently been needing one (now that she’s rolling!). So now that she’s rolling, she can’t really lay on a bed with pillows around her.
Debbie Andrews says
My daughter used the genie diaper holder that you used regular trash bags in and it was great. I also liked the exersaucer we used, I bought it used and it was a great interaction toy, they sat in it and I would sit on the for and we would play. No a Grandmother doesn’t have to hold the baby every minute, sometimes she can do dishes, ect, but still be playing with baby.
Marjorie says
I loved the bath pillow … It was so perfect for a first time mom.. New to bathing babies! I buy them was shower gifts for everyone I know
Heidi says
Good list. I’ve found that my two girls are so different that what was essential to one was useless to the other. My first LOVED her swing. She’d stay in the thing forever. She’d sleep in it. My second really disliked it.
I enjoyed the boppy, but mostly because my first would sleep in it (I know, I know, they aren’t supposed to sleep in it, but it was such a good angle); although I didn’t use it for feeding since I had to bottle feed.
Tiffany says
I’m a pretty minimalist if mom. Didn’t want my house taken over by baby crap.
I’d add to skip the wipe warmer. My sister INSISTED I needed one so she bought it for me. I used it since I had it but my kid didn’t care if the wipes were warm or room temp.
Another Boppy hater here. I am very well endowed and found that the kiddo didn’t need to be propped up (brutal confession- she was able to pretty much lay on my lap to nurse!)
A must to add- swaddle wraps. Not the blanket, the kind that Velcro around. Awesome!
One must for me is an Aidan and Anais swaddle blanket. I frequently rocked one like a cape when I had a nursing kiddo. Tie next door corners and you’ve got instant nursing cover!
Collette - Meal Mom says
I love the “brest friend” nursing pillow. It buckles around you so it can hold the baby up right next to your breast for easy nursing! I needed this for the first few months!
Also I LOVE our wabannub pacifier! We have had one pacifier for my sons 11 months of life and never lost because it is so big. And it is especially nice at night in the dark to just feel around the crib and you can always find it!
Miriam says
I agree about the diaper pail. I had one for Ruby but realized it isn’t that awesome. It still stinks and the liners are so expensive!
I just got converted to the aden and anais blankets. Have you heard of those? I love them. Got one for my baby shower and found that I was miserable every time it was in the washing machine. So I bought a few more. They’re super light weight, but also huge. They’re easy to swaddle in. They’re really absorbent so they double as burp cloths. They’re quite amazing, really.
Miriam says
Also, it’s the only thing my baby will nurse under (she prefers it over the nursing cover that I have). It’s just so light weight I don’t think she really even notices it.
Tina B says
I never saw any use for those fancy nursing pillows. I used a regular pillow and we did just fine. Some people feel comfier with the nursing pillow so to each his own.
A must-have for me is a simple bouncie chair with vibration. Mini loved to sit in the chair and bounce away. The vibration is good if they have an issue going #2. I had a swing that I used if I needed to but Mini was always a good napper.
Even if you are not a two-car family, opt for an infant seat that has 2 bases or at least a seat that you can purchase additional bases. Keep one at your house and one in your car.
If you’re a traveler, they have this thing that basically turns your carseat into rolling luggage so you can keep baby in it. GoGoBabyz Travelmate, I believe it was called. I loved it so much!
The list they give you when you register is ridiculous and you won’t even need most of the things. You pretty much can just sit with it (the rocking chair display is a super-comfy place to do this!) and decide what you want and don’t want. I took my sweet time going over the list. They won’t ask a very pregnant lady to move 😉
Jill says
I love my baby tub, my 18month old still bathes in hers. Saves us water and is much easier to “clean up” (play catch the turd) also definitely a pack&play. We had one with a bassinet attachment and it SAVED MY LIFE with my unexpected csection. Used it to change her, to sleep her. Everything. And I didn’t have to bend way down, which I couldn’t do with the staples in anyway. Also, a few different types of bottles are always good to have at first until you figure what works best with your child.
Kimberly says
I am also a mother of 2 and I agree with all of your suggestions;) of course every baby is different, for example, my son HATED the bouncy seat but loved the swing and my daughter is the complete oppisite! Go figure! Lol. If I had to add anything I would say that a wipes warmer is pointless!!! And a bottle warmer has been a life saver!! Soooo much easier than having to warm refrigerated bottles than boiling or running under hot water
Liz P. says
I would add a pack and play which is good for trips to grandparents, camping, etc. Skip the rock and play.
I would skip the boppy and LOVE my brestfriend nursing pillow.
Our first loved the swing and our others were okay with it, but it was a handy-to-have and a good spot to keep baby away from his big brothers.
Great list. So more accurate than others I’ve seen!
Wendy Lormand says
Okay, as mother of three ages from 26 to 12, I didn’t have access to a lot of these products with my first, so I just didn’t bother with them as they came out. By the time my youngest was born, most of these products were available but I found that there were only a few “where have you been all my life” items. I’ve put my two cents list in order for you.
MUST HAVES: baggies marked clean and dirty for pacifiers so you don’t accidentally give Jr the one you just fished out of a puddle of whatever in the parking lot, a small fully stocked diaper bag for each vehicle you own (diapers, wipes, baggies and talc), a low light lamp for middle of the night get together a with the Boss, and a good baby carrier. I wore my kids so they were wrapped around me for hands free carrying all the time. Oxyclean laundry spray (magic potion I swear, gets out anything and you can spray it on and then put the item in the hamper rather than washing immediately)
NICE TO HAVE: bottle warmer if you’re not nursing, pacifier clips, car seat cover if you park in the sun so you don’t burn yourself or baby, a stroller frame that you can mount your infant car seat on so you don’t have to wake a sleeping baby when you are out shopping, squishy toys for teething babies
DONT BOTHER: baby wipe warmer, special cushions to keep baby on their side when sleeping (roll up a towel or small blanket for heavens sake), fancy strollers, convertible cribs that are supposed to end up as daybeds or head/foot boards one day, and Boppys.
Amy M. says
I would definitely add BIBS to the must-have list! Holy cow, I had no idea my child would go through so many bibs each day. Ever since she started teething she has been drooling like crazy! We always keep extra bibs around the house, in the diaper bag, in the car, etc….
Amelie says
Thanks for your list! We’re expecting our first in less than a month and a half, and it’s been a bit overwhelming trying to get ready for her arrival with all the items we need for her! My husband is very budget-conscious so although there are many things I think we need for the baby, I’ve had to realize that a lot of them are just wants that I can get later or just do without altogether! I originally had the mamaroo on my registry and I quickly realized that even though it is really cool, it is way out of our price range and it would only last for a few months at most. I registered for the Graco 2-in-1 glider swing/bouncer combo instead (I haven’t gotten it yet but I hear it’s great and takes up a lot less room than most swings).
To comment on your question about a bath pillow… my friend has two babies and she uses the bath sponge from Babies R Us. They have a pink ladybug for girls and a green frog for boys. It’s about $5.00 depending on when you catch it on special. She loves it because it’s super supportive for baby laying in it all the way up to toddler sitting on it, and it’s super easy to store away if you have company or you’re just done using it. It also won’t break the bank so you can buy 2 to keep 1 at grandma’s or whatnot. I’m definitely ditching the baby bath tub idea and getting this sponge for our baby girl!
Erin says
We do the same thing with the diapers! We bought scented bags from Wal Mart for pretty cheap (or, if you’re really feeling cheap we used extra dog poop bags for a while when we ran out and didn’t want to make the trip!). It works just fine and it saves you so much money and space with the diaper pail.
Love this list!
Jennifer says
The Brest Friend nursing pillow had been essential for me. My newborn had difficulty latching for the first month or so and once she latched, it was sacred. I would all but hold my breath to prevent the delicate latch from being broken. With normal pillows, or even the beloved Boppy, she would gradually slide down in the space between me and the pillow breaking the latch and we would have to start the painful process all over. The Brest Friend didn’t go anywhere because it buckles which was a lifesaver for us! I would have quit breastfeeding without it, no question.
Julie S. says
Thank you for this post 🙂 I added your recommendations to my registry for the must have items. There are just too many products out there and it is hard to tell what you really need and what is frivolous.
tara says
I don’t really understand the “products to keep the baby’s head round” being a must have and a carrier being on the nice to have list. If you wear your baby, his or her head is much less likely to go flat.
gooddayforagreatday says
Great list – thank you! Especially love the part about avoiding flat head. I would stop recommending the infantino carrier though. I recently learned that carriers like that can cause pretty severe hip dysplasia (if you think a few months in a helmet is bad, imagine kiddo in full leg casts!). Ergo and Moby are much better since they keep them in the “Frog leg” position.
Lilah says
People do know the boppy I used for other stuff other than nursing right? it says so right on the package. its great for supported sitters and chilling under hanging toys. by 2yr old stil uses it for movie nights on the floor.
Amy says
The must have items in our home and the ones I will invest the most money in with my next child are the crib, the car seats, and the stroller. These items get used the most in our home and coming from experience, the higher priced quality items really are worth the extra money. I started out with the cheaper brands and quickly learned why they were cheaper. As for the fancy stroller, my two Peg Perego’s are still going strong, and look like new. I absolutely loved the Chicco, Britax, and Recaro car seats we had, they are worth every penny
The newborn lounger was never a must have for me. I had the Fisher Price infant to toddler rocker and it propped up for newborns and lasted until the child was 40lbs. Also the cradle swing with ac adaptor was a must have at our home. I personally loved having a bouncer and a swing. They both performed different jobs in our home, but I loved being able to bring the bouncy seat into the bathroom while I showered. I tried to limit the sleeping time in these devices and always put them back to sleep in the bassinet and then crib. We never had an issue with flat heads. I never had a need for a pack and play in our home, but it was great to have at grandma’s house.
I really didn’t care for the baby bathtub and purchased one of those bath sling seats (like the summer infant) and one of those foam cutouts shaped like a teddy bear and used them in the real bathtub. My sink wasn’t big enough for these, but they could work if you have a larger sink. I loved having a bath ring seat for baby once they could sit up. It made it a lot easier for me to bath them and they enjoyed being able to sit up without slipping all over. Keter makes a really nice bath seat. Another bath time must in our home was (and still is) the soft Munchkin bath rinser.
I also really loved the baby gowns and sacks for the little ones before they were mobile.
I tried some of those extend a size snap on crotch extenders for onesies once, but they never fit on any brand of onesie I had.
The Mam and Avent bottles and pacifiers were the top picks for feeding in our home. These are my go to gifts for new moms. All of the babies I have known loved these. And if they leak, you don’t have the ring on correctly. Unscrew the ring until you feel or hear the notches fall into place then screw it back on, do not over tighten. I hear many people complain about this but they are not taking the time to properly align the rings.
I agree with using the scented disposable diaper bags. I threw out my diaper pail with the second child and used these small scented bags with every change and threw the diaper out with the trash. Diaper pails can make your house smell worse than the garbage can. You can find boxes of these bags for $1 at the Dollar Tree.
I LOVED the Moby wrap. I tried the cheaper infantino carrier but it was so uncomfortable and the Ergo was a little out of my price range then.
I would definitely recommend a hook on high chair, like the Chicco, Regalo, Inglesina, Phil and Teds, Joovy, or whatever brand you can find. These are great for small spaces, using on countertops with a ledge, and restaurants. The full size Chicco Polly Highchair and Peg Perego Prima Pappa high chair are also wonderful if you prefer a full size chair.
We had both the Jumperoo and the baby walker for my children. There were times they liked playing in it and times that they didn’t. These items wont be used until your child is older though so they are not really a necessary registry item.
I had the Bumbo seat with my second child. This is something I would not buy again.
I wasn’t a fan of the Boppy, but it makes a great photography prop.
Another must here are the Pampers Swaddlers diapers and Sensitive Wipes. I did try almost every other brand out there, including the organic, but the Swaddlers are still my top pick. We didn’t get to enjoy them all the way to size 6 back then though, when my youngest was little, they stopped at size 3.
Triple Paste, Aquaphor and the menthol bubble bath for babies are another must have item here.
When my children were little, I tried just about everything on the market. I would definitely purchase my must have items again and skip the items I didn’t like or didn’t list.
carrir says
You missed a car seat with a low harness height. Looking at the weight is not enough. There are several guides available made by CPSTs to give u you an up to date list. Skip the after market items they often are forbidden by the manufacturer.
Nicole says
My kids love the exersaucer!!!! And it strengthens their core and leg muscles!!!!
Jessie says
It’s funny how different each person is, because I completely disagree with a lot on this post.
A camera is a must for us! Around 9-10 months my daughter was sticking her arms and legs through her crib and getting stuck- a camera was the only way I could tell if she was just being fussy or yelling that she needed me to free her.
A carrier is not only a hands free must, but the best way to bond skin to skin, keep baby warm, and breast feed in public. I would must have that forsure!
And a boppy was SO KEY for me with feeding, tummy time, and just another place to set the baby. Then when she was too old for it, I started using it for a neck pillow- and it’s the best pillow I currently still use!
A nursing cover? Really a must have? If I was somewhere super public (like the middle of a restaurant where I didn’t want milk to spray out everywhere, I used a blanket…. But generally you just whip out the nipple and use your baby’s mouth to cover up.
Bum brush? I think it sounds like a silly extra to have in an already cluttered diapering area. When your finger works perfect, and you can just wipe it off on the diaper… Not like your sticking your finger in a poop.
Anyways- that’s my 2 cents!
JJ says
I appreciate your article and you make a lot of good points. I think the stuff you use and don’t use are hard to determine until the baby is born. Lifestyle and the baby’s personality with combine into a unique set of attributes and needs specific to that individual child. We bought a bassinet, our son needed a Rock n’ Play and a pack n’ play. We could not have survived with out his swing and his exersaucer. He needed constant entertainment and movement. I’m told our next will likely be totally different. If I were to give advice I would wait until after the baby is born to buy all the extras and stick with the most basic things.
Heather says
I would definitly get a good carrier. Yes the cheap infintinto’s and such work but they are bad for babies hips. You can look up studies that show it. We use woven wraps and soft structured carriers like ergo, Tula or Lillebaby. Much better on baby joints and much more comfortable for parents. It’s a one time investment but the re-sale is remarkably good.
Janae says
I disagree with a lot of this but i think that it varies a lot from person to person… depending on where you live and then your specific baby. The one thing I’d add for anyone tho- is nursing pads. Even if you don’t end up nursing- when the milk comes in they’d be important to have- and DEFINITELY if you end up nursing.
Sam says
Biggest must need are bibs, and burp cloths. My little is a messy eater and I use 2 burp cloths so my bra doesn’t get soaked in milk. Burp cloths are cheaper than nursing bras.
My nice to have is my changing pad. We have a dresser with the changing pad on it. It’s easier to take the baby into his room real quick to change him instead of having another changing station in your bedroom.
Another nice to have is a quality recliner. I nurse in the middle of the night in the recliner and then around 5 am we feed and then just cover up with a blanket and go back to sleep.
My not needed is the bathtub. I just take my little into the shower or bath with me.
Another not needed is stuffed animals. Why would you ever get those for people?!? I feel like it’s a waste of money on a donation.
taphsadmin says
Such an amazing list I almost forgot some of these things as a first time mom. Thank you so much for sharing I am sure its going to help other new moms like me